Fairweather reports engine trouble

Posted: Thursday, July 30, 2009

JUNEAU - Late in the afternoon Wednesday, the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Fairweather reported two of its four main diesel engines are down, according to Roger Wetherell, chief commission officer for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

A technical representative and expert on diesel engines is in town from the Seattle area, and the Department of Transportation plans to have the ship up and running by today.

"We are hopeful and remain confident that tomorrow the ship will resume sailing," Wetherell said Wednesday.

The engines problems aren't substantial, as far as DOT knows, but Wetherell noted that it will take the expertise of the technical representative to locate and fix the problem.

The DOT immediately notified passengers who had bought tickets for the Fairweather today and gave them the option of riding on other ferries to reach their destination ports.

Fixing the Fairweather quickly is crucial to the DOT, which has the ship fully booked for both passengers and cars for the Haines State Fair that starts today and goes through the weekend.